The Mariners’ manager search just picked up a little more heat, and it came from an unexpected place.
On Tuesday morning, Diamondbacks president and CEO Derrick Hall gave Torey Lovullo a public nod on KTAR 92.3 that sounded a lot like a warning shot to any club doing its homework, including Seattle.
“If he walks out this door, he’s going to get a job in a heartbeat, and he should because I do think he’s one of the best managers in the game,” Hall said.
That kind of endorsement matters because Lovullo is already sitting near the top of the Mariners’ list. The Seattle Times reported that the team’s front office has discussed him internally, and he is viewed as a leading candidate. His contract in Arizona runs through the 2026 season, and MLB.com reported that the Diamondbacks and Lovullo had not talked about an extension entering the week.
Lovullo has also said he wants to remain with Arizona, while making clear that he “wants to be wanted.” That puts Seattle in a familiar spot: interested, but not alone.
Jerry Dipoto said the Mariners’ search for their next manager would be exhaustive, and there’s nothing casual about the process ahead. The club is expected to interview multiple candidates, compare philosophies and do the background work that comes with a hire this important. At the same time, this doesn’t sound like a search that can drag forever.
After Dan Wilson’s departure, Dipoto said the Mariners would hire from outside the organization and would most likely look for someone with major-league managerial experience. He also said Seattle needs a manager who can poke holes in the organization’s thinking.
Lovullo fits that profile on paper. He has spent 10 seasons managing Arizona, won an NL pennant in 2023 and built a reputation for strong relationships with players.
But the case doesn’t stop there, because the Diamondbacks’ recent record under Lovullo is part of the picture too. Arizona has reached the postseason twice during his tenure and has missed it in three straight seasons since that World Series run. Hall’s praise may be loud, but it can’t answer the questions Seattle has to ask for itself: game management, clubhouse standards and whether he can hold each player accountable.
If Dipoto truly wants someone who can challenge the way the Mariners operate, the next manager has to come with real authority. Hiring Lovullo and then limiting his say would defeat the point.
Seattle does not need a manager whose job is mainly to pass along decisions from above. It needs a voice that carries weight, which is why an experienced manager makes so much sense.
The Mariners do have something to sell. They can point to a roster that was one year removed from Game 7 of the ALCS, an established pitching infrastructure and a chance to help shape a rebuilt coaching staff. Still, they also have to prove this search is about more than swapping names on a door.
Hall may want to keep Lovullo in Arizona, but his message was clear enough for everyone else: if he gets to market, move fast.
In Other News...
Diamondbacks Just Ended A Torey Lovullo Debate That Kept Growing
The Diamondbacks have put an end to one of the bigger internal questions around the franchise by signing Torey Lovullo to a two-year contract extension that keeps him in place through the 2027 season. Lovullo has now been at the helm for 10 seasons, long enough to become one of the defining figures of the clubs modern era, with multiple postseason trips and the 2023 World Series run standing out as the high-water mark.
Even with some uneven results and a few clubhouse issues in recent years, the organization has continued to signal belief in his leadership, and CEO Derrick Hall has been among the voices backing that view. The extension settles the present, but it also leaves the more interesting question hanging over what comes next for a manager whose tenure has already seen both the best and most complicated stretches of the Diamondbacks recent history. [Read more 🡒]
D-Backs Rotation Need Could Make Michael Soroka A Real Priority
Arizonas offseason pitching puzzle is already coming into focus, and Michael Soroka is in the middle of it. The Diamondbacks are reportedly interested in bringing him back in free agency after he turned in a 3.41 ERA across 22 appearances, a reminder that he gave them useful innings even while dealing with injury issues during the season.
Soroka has also signaled a desire to return, which matters because the Diamondbacks are expected to shop aggressively for starting pitching. With concerns about both performance and health in the current rotation, a pitcher who has already fit into the room and shown he can help when available could quickly rise from a familiar name to a real priority. [Read more 🡒]
Diamondbacks Fans May Revisit One Part Of The Lars Nootbaar Deal
The Lars Nootbaar deal finally has its last piece in place, and it sends another Arizona pitching prospect to St. Louis. Brian Curley, a 23-year-old third-round pick out of Georgia, was the player to be named later, adding a little more clarity to a trade Diamondbacks fans have had reason to track since the original swap.
Curley spent the 2026 season pitching at High-A and Double-A, where the results were uneven but the underlying traits stood out. He paired strong strikeout and walk numbers with a high ERA, and his appeal remains easy to see: a fastball that can get into triple digits and a varied arsenal that gives him a chance to keep moving. Arizona will have to wait a while to revisit the deal in another sense, since he will not be eligible for the Rule 5 draft until after the 2028 season. [Read more 🡒]